Ramgarh: The Ramgarh constituency has gained prominence when Babulal Marandi, the state’s first CM, won the 2001 bypoll as a BJP candidate following the death of CPI’s Shabir Ahmed Quraishi. Marandi, who served as a minister in the Vajpayee cabinet, became the Dumka MP after defeating JMM leader Shibu Soren. He later resigned from his position to become the state’s first CM, necessitating his election to the state assembly through the Ramgarh bypoll.
The political landscape of Ramgarh saw a shift in 2005 when Ajsu-P’s C P Choudhary won it and maintained his hold till 2014. Following Choudhary’s election as MP from Giridih, his wife Sunita Choudhary carried forward his political legacy. The 2019 assembly election marked another change when Congress candidate Mamta Devi defeated Sunita. However, Mamta’s conviction in the 2016 Gola police firing case in 2022 led to a vacancy, resulting in a bypoll in 2023. Sunita emerged victorious in this election, defeating Bajrang Mahto, Mamta’s husband.
The upcoming Nov 20 election presents a fresh challenge for Ajsu-P as Mamta returns to the political arena.